Sweep rake and stacker



April 12, 1949. c. J. DAVIS ETAL I 2,466,878

SWEEP RAKE AND STACKER Filed June 20, 1945 v 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS. Char/es u. Dal/As Lqyd Wesffio/f ATTO RN HY April 1949- c. J. DAVIS ET AL 2,466,878

SWEEP RAKE AND STACKER Filed June 20, 1945 a Sheets-Sheet 2 53 lNVENTORfi Char/es u. flaws V 5 a Lyd 1 We sf/w/f v do n I M/ chae/s ATTORNEY April 19493 c. J. DAVIS ET AL 2,466,878

SWEEP RAKE- AND STACKER Filed June 20, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 a d .1 BY do M/a/me/a ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 12, 1949 UNITEDLE STATES;

ATENT OFFICE SWEEP" RAKE AND- STACKER I Charles. J. Davis, Loyd R. Westholt,-and.

J 01in I. Michaels, Wichita, .Kans.

This invention relates ato 'improvements in 'a pickup and stackin device andrefersmorepanticularly to a mechanism for'imounti-ng on atractor to gather and stack'hawalfalfa, peas, beans and other legumes andwforage rcropsiprior to threshing. For the explanation. of "913116 devicethere has been selected what is knowm as a-sweep l rake and stacker.- :Themechanism' is serviceable also for picking up, conveying andstacking baled, bagged, boxed or packaged commodities-i such as. fruit and vegetables. fI'haapparatus is preferably mounted upon a conventional type-tractor equipped with a hydraulic system such as that' manufactured by theFord Motor Company.

The features of salient'noveltywreside in the flexible support or mounting of the. rake in front of the tractor when used as a sweep-rake and i in the manner in which "the rake is elevated'and dumped during the stackingoperation'.

It is recognized that a combined sweep rake.

and stacker Or other type of pickuptdevices, such as shovels, forks or scoops have been heretofore mounted upon tractors employing mechanical or hydraulic lifting mechanism for. raisin and).

dumping the pickup rattachmentwlt is believed. novel, however, to pivot a rake-central1y of its tines on an elevated frame which forms its supe.

port and by a separate.hydraulicallyactuated lifta raise and dump the rake while elevated above its supporting frame.

An object of the invention,. therefore, is to pro.-

vide a pickup and dumping dev'iceadapted to be mounted upon the frame of a tractor which can be used both as a sweep rake and. stacker.

Another object is to provide a sweep rake "andstacking device whose elevating and dumping mechanisms are operated from the hydraulic system .of the tractor :upon which it is mounted. W

A further object is toprovide a sweep rake.

which is flexibly mounted on the tractor frame.

accommodating itself as it moves over the ground before the tractor to rough contourof the surface thereby reducing strains. and stresses upon the mechanism and reducing likelihood Lof damage to its parts.

Another object is .to provide. a pickup and. stacking device which .has separatelyoperated' i lifts,' one'to raise the.rakesupportinglframe and the'other to further liftand dump the. rake'afte'r it has been elevated by the frame.

Other. and further. objects. will appear .fromthe 1 following. description.' Ini.. the...accompanying Fig; 2 is a plan view of the rakeportion of the device, 1

Fig.3 is a WeWtaken-alongthe:line 3-3 in Fig; 2 in the-"direction of the arrows;

Fig; 4 is a rear viewof therake ShONViHg'rthB-F auxiliary hydraulic-lift-and dumping mechanism,--=-

Fig; 5 is a side ViGWOf the rake,

Fig; 6 is a view-taken along the "lines-tin .1" Fig.2 in the direction'of the arrows,-

Fig: '7 is a View taken along the line-ll'-in Fig. 5 in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 8 is a view taken along the line 8 8 in Fig. 3 in the direction 'of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Fig. l, at EU is shownrdia'grammatically the radi ator and hood surrounding the engine ."of a trac :tor. The frame is carried by-front'wheelsl2 and'rear wheels l3. .The tractor -shown'is of the Ford-Ferguson type equippedwith' a hydraulic system located beneath andbuilt'in as an integral part of the engine; .-Mounted-uponthe-tractor ;frame are uprights l4 held in position by diagonar stanchions' or bracesn-IE -and' lower-horizontal frame members l6. Pivoted on theuprights l4 at cross bar-ll is a rake...supporting. frame l8.-- Mounted on the tractor frameuare two-hydraulic. A

v cylinders I 9 whose pistons P20 are attached at their upper ends to a. transverse bar -18a .of the frame l8. In a lowered position .the'side meme bets-of the frame l8 are=substantially-parallel to the stanchion 15 whilethe-rakeextends from.

athe front of the tractor with .itsteeth or tines 4 to 8 inches abOve-thegmund-level. .From the. front of framelB eXtendarm-supports H319 to which are pivoted at -2I .thelift. arms. 22. -A spacer tube 23 betweenthe lift arm. is located *ladjacent pivot 2 l v The back of the sweep rakeconsists of vertical. members ..2 4,- hor.izonta1. .transversamemb ers 2 5,). and-lower horizontal members 126 and 21 held-v together andbraced by diagonal supports. 28 and.

-' 29.. "The bottom teeth or tines 3B are formed i -Sfla are of metal-constructionhavin lthe form of inverted channels. These teeth or tines are... held in position .by anglesn32 which are. .bolted to the lower transverse..member zlfshown in cross section in Fig. 8. The front-ends-of the -'lift arms 22 are pivoted. centrallybeneath the.-.

channel-shaped teeth-3fla at '33; as shown in Figs.... 3 and 5. Therear. ends .of the liftarmssextend beyond pivots 2| and terminate in -lateral1y...eX-.. tending flange -members-22a,..shown in Figs. 3

and 5. Thefianges abut supports I81) and per mi-t a limited vertical movementof .theliftarms onpivotsZ l Since the rake is supported on the lift arms the. limited movement permitted by the flanges accommodates the rake to unevenness in 'fthesurface of thegroundover whichthe tractor and rake are passing when the rake is in a lowered position.

The hydraulic mechanism comprising cylinders i9 and pistons 20 which form the liftin arrangement for frame [8 are connected by a flexible hose connection 34 through a control valve, not shown, to the hydraulic system of the tractor. The secondary rake liftin and dumping mechanism comprises a hydraulic cylinder 35 pivoted between vertical supports 36 in the back of the rake. Operating in cylinder 35 and attached at its lower end by lugs to cross member or spacer bar 23 is a hollow piston 31, shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5. Piston 31 is likewise connected through piping 38 to a control valve near the operators seat, not shown. The control for directing hydraulic fluid from the tractor hydraulic system to cylinders I9 and 35 may be a single rotary valve operated by a single lever or separate valves. In either event, separate controls must be provided to operate the frame lifting mechanism and the auxiliary or supplementary rake lifting and dumpin mechanism as entirely separate units.

Within the inverted channel-shaped teeth above the lift arms are coil springs 39 attached at their forward ends to the teeth at pins 40. The rear or opposite ends of the springs hook into eyes 41 on top of lift arms 22 substantially above the axis of spacer tube 23. Extending inwardly from the lower edges of both lift arms 22 are lugs 22b, shown in Figs. 4 and 6, against which the inner flanges of the channelled teeth abut when in a lowered position. These lugs 22b and pivots 2i support the rake on the lift arm while flanges 22a at the rear ends of the arms give the teeth of the rake a limited vertical movement on pivot 21 when in a lowered position and used as a sweep rake.

As previously suggested, when used as a sweep rake the teeth extend forwardly from the tractor substantially parallel with the ground level and a few inches thereabove. In this position forage crops and small grain as well as peas and beans or baled and bagged commodities can be picked up and transported. When it is desired to stack or pile the crops or commodities the control handle is operated to introduce hydraulic fluid under pressure from the tractor hydraulic system into the bottoms of cylinders I9. Pistons 20 are forced upwardly exerting an upward force evenly and at opposite ends of cross bar l8a. This cross bar being a part of the frame rotates the frame upon its pivot i'l. During this movement of the frame the rake is supported upon and held in position on the frame by lift arms 22 pivoted at the extending ends of frame arms [8b. A latching mechanism diagrammatically shown at 42 in Fig. l is used when a scoop bucket or utility fork is substituted for the sweep rake.

To operate the supplemental rake lifting and dumping mechanism the valve controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid is manipulated to introduce fluid from the tractor hydraulic system through pipe 38 into the hollow piston 31. The fluid flowing through the hollow piston exerts energy against the top of the cylinder since in this mechanism the position of the cylinder is reversed, being above instead of below the piston. As the cylinder 35 is attached to the back of the rake its rear end is raised, and the rake as a whole being pivoted centrally of its teeth at 33.

In Fig. 1 the rake is shown at its extreme upward elevation. It will be noted that frame [8 has been elevated upon its pivot l! to an angle of 30 or more above a horizontal position. Lift arms 22 pivoted to frame arms I812 at the front of the frame l8 extend upwardly at an angle from the frame. At the ends of the lift arms at pivots 33 located centrally of the channelled teeth of the rake are the pivots for further elevating and dumping the rake. By locating these pivots thusly, elevation of the back of the rake by the auxiliary or supplementary hydraulic cylinder 35 raises it first to a horizontal position and further elevation dumps its contents. Were the rake pivoted, as is usual, along its bottom rear edge the additional elevation acquired by pivoting the rake centrally of the teeth could not be obtained. In other words, if the rake were pivoted at the rear ends of the teeth or at the back when dumped the extreme height to which it could be elevated would be along its pivot. By supporting the rake centrally of the tines and attaching the elevating mechanism to the back of the rake the dumping operation increases its elevation and permits its contents to be piled or stacked to a greater height.

To lower the rake the control valve for the upper elevating hydraulic mechanism is actuated to permit draining back of the hydraulic fluid into the low pressure chamber of the tractor system. Coil springs 39 put under tension during elevation of the rake now return the rake to rest upon the lift arms, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. Piston 31 will be telescoped into cylinder 35 and the rake will rest upon and be supported by frame arms [8a and lift arms 22. When in this position the lift arms are in position beneath the channelled teeth, shown in Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive. After the rake has been lowered to rest upon the frame lift arms the control valve, which admits hydraulic fluid to cylinders I9, is operated permitting discharge of hydraulic fluid from the cylinders back into the low pressure chamber of the tractor system. With the release of pressure upon the hydraulic fluid pistons 28 are retracted in their cylinders pivoting the frame and rake to a lowered position. By the control valve or valves, which separately charge and discharge hydraulic fluid to the frame lifting and rake elevating mechanisms, elevation of the rake and its position with respect to the tractor may be accurately adjusted at the will of the operator.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the objects of the invention have been accomplished. There has been provided a sweep rake and stacker flexibly pivoted from the frame of a tractor when in a lowered position. The flexible mounting of the rake on the frame permits the rake to accommodate itself to rough or uneven terrain over which it is operated with less likelihood of damage due to vibration, jarring and collision with obstructions. The separately operated hydraulic frame and rake elevating mechanisms permit the rake to be raised to any desired height between the lowered position and the extreme elevated position. By pivoting the rake centrally of its tines and attaching the hydraulic elevator at the rear of the rake an increased height or elevation is attained.

It is contemplated that the two hydraulic eleindicated, both hydraulic elevating mechanisms are operated from the tractor hy-' draulic system built in as a part or the tractor, as in the Fordson tractor, or added as an accessory to the tractor. The details of the hydraulic system, the control valve mechanisms and the latching device for holding the rake in position on the frame arms have been omitted from the drawings or shown very diagrammatically the interest of simplicity.

It will be seen that the invention is one Well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A sweep rake and stacker operated in conjunction with a power driven tractor having a hydraulic system comprising uprights mounted on the tractor, a frame pivoted upon the uprights, a frame lifting mechanism connected to the tractor hydraulic system for raising and lowering the frame upon its pivot, lift arms attached to the frame, a sweep rake hinged to said arms for rotation about an axis central of the tines, a rake lifting and dumping mechanism also connected to the tractor hydraulic system mounted on the tractor, said lifting and dumping mechanism comprising an inverted hydraulic cylinder attached to the sweep rake, a hollow piston within the cylinder pivoted at its lower extremity on the frame and springs for returning the rake to normal position after dumping, and control means operating the frame and rake actuating mechanisms.

2. A sweep rake and stacker as in claim 1 wherein the control means is adapted to separately operate the frame and rake actuating mechanisms.

3. A device as in claim 1 in which the sweep rake is replaced by a pickup device of the class including a shovel or scoop.

4. A pickup device operated in conjunction with a power driven tractor comprising uprights mounted on the tractor, a frame pivoted upon the uprights, frame arms extending forwardly of the frame in rigid relationship thereto, a pickup attachment, lift arms pivoted to the frame arms and to the pickup attachment, limiting means coacting with the frame and lift arms permitting limited oscillation of the lift arms relative to the frame to accommodate and compensate for sudden strains and stresses imposed upon the pickup attachment supports by unevenness of the terrain.

5. A device as in claim 4 in which the pickup attachment is a sweep rake.

6. A device as in claim 4 in which the limiting means comprises flanges at the extremities of the lift arms loosely embracing the frame arms rearwardly of where they are pivoted.

7. A tractor-carried pickup device comprising an upright support mounted on the tractor, a boom hinged at one end to the top of said support, apparatus operable to raise and lower the free end of said boom, a load-carrying attachment fulcrumed at a point approximately midway between its front and rear to the free end of said boom, and a hydraulic ram operable to pivot said load-carrying attachment about its fulcrum, said ram comprising an inverted cylinder connected to the rear of said load-carrying attachment and a hollow piston within the cylinder connected to said boom adjacent the rear of said attachment.

8. A tractor-carried pickup device comprising an upright support mounted on the tractor, a boom hinged at one end to the top of said support, apparatus operable to raise and lower the free end of said boom, a boom extension pivotally supported on the free end of said boom, stop means restricting the rotation of said extension with respect to said boom and maintaining the two in such angular relationship that said extension is substantially horizontal whenever said boom is inclined obliquely downward toward the ground, and a load-carrying attachment fulcrumed at a point approximately midway between its front and rear to the free end of said extension.

9. A tractor-carried pickup device comprising an upright support mounted on the tractor, a boom hinged at one end to the top of said support, a pair of spaced-apart arms extending from the free end of said boom parallel to one another, and a sweep rake having a pair of tines each pivoted at approximately its mid point to the free end of a corresponding one of said arms, whereby said rake is carried by said arms.

10. A tractor-carried pickup device as claimed in claim 9 wherein each of said tines has a recess extending at least half the length of said tine for receiving the arm to which that tine is pivoted.

11. A tractor-carried pickup device comprising an upright support mounted on the tractor, a boom hinged at one end to the top of said support, a pair of spaced-apart arms extending from the free end of said boom parallel to one another, a crosspiece between said arms, a sweep rake having a pair of tines each pivoted at approxi mately its mid point to a free end of a corresponding one of said arms, whereby said rake is carried by said arms, and a hydraulic ram operable to rotate said sweep rake about its pivot, said ram having one end connected to the rear of said sweep rake and the other end connected to said crosspiece.

CHARLES J. DAVIS. LOYD R. WESTHOLT. JOHN I. MICHAELS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,504,427 Butler Aug. 12, 1924 1,547,773 Pearson July 28, 1925 2,242,860 Huelle May 20, 1941 2,295,917 Schwan Sept. 15, 1942 2,300,731 Knarreborg Nov. 3, 1942 2,319,921 Dooley et a1 May 25, 1943 2,338,361 Shinn Jan. 4, 1944 2,348,899 Guignard et al May 16, 1944 2,349,335 Baldwin May 23, 1944 2,385,512 Heath Sept. 25, 1945 2,398,119 sauder April 9, 1946 2,413,097 Barker Dec. 24, 1946 

